Flexible functionality partitioning within intelligent-thermostat-controlled HVAC systems

• US 9,513,642 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2012
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Rogers, Matthew Lee, Fadell, Anthony Michael, Charlton, Erik, Honjo, Shigefumi, Matsuoka, Yoky, Sloo, David, Guenette, Isabel
• Primary Examiner(s): Rifkin, Ben
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huntley, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US13/988,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20130338839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,799 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/47 Responding to energy costs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/12 Position of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25419 Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1902 characterised by the use of a variable reference value
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

The current application is directed to an intelligent-thermostat-controlled environmental-conditioning system in which computational tasks and subcomponents with associated intelligent-thermostat functionalities are distributed to one or more of concealed and visible portions of one or more intelligent thermostats and, in certain implementations, to one or more intermediate boxes. The intelligent thermostats are interconnected to intermediate boxes by wired and/or wireless interfaces and intelligent thermostats intercommunicate with one another by wireless communications. Wireless communications include communications through a local router and an ISP, 3G and 4G wireless communications through a mobile service provider. Components of the intelligent-thermostat-controlled thermostat-controlled environmental-conditioning system may also be connected by wireless communications to remote computing facilities.

Claims

1. An intelligent thermostat comprising:

a visible portion;

a concealed portion onto which the visible portion mounts by sliding the visible portion onto the concealed portion; and

subcomponents, wherein each of the subcomponents is associated with one or more intelligent-thermostat functionalities, the subcomponents comprising;

a long-distance wireless communications module that interconnects the intelligent thermostat with remote computing facilities;

a local wireless communications module that interconnects the intelligent thermostat with environmental-condition-system components;

a plurality of infrared sensors comprising;

a first infrared sensor configured to detect an occupant approaching the intelligent thermostat; and

a second infrared sensor configured to detect a presence of the occupant regardless of whether the occupant is approaching the intelligent thermostat;

a microprocessor that controls an interactive user interface and additional monitoring, analysis, and communications functions, and further controls a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system based at least in part an occupancy state of the home determined by the second infrared sensor;

a microcontroller that controls low-power-consuming functions and wake-on circuitry;

one or more environmental sensors that monitor an environment;

a mechanical user interface;

an optico-electrical user interface;

a display driver;

an electronic memory;

a battery;

power-management circuitry;

power-supply circuitry; and

wake-on circuitry that powers up the interactive user interface when the occupant approaching the intelligent thermostat is detected by the first infrared sensor.

2. The intelligent thermostat of claim 1 wherein the long-distance wireless communications module is one of:

a module that interconnects the intelligent thermostat through a local router to an ISP, through which the intelligent thermostat interfaces to the remote computing facilities; and

a 3G or 4G wireless module that interconnects the intelligent thermostat through a mobile service provider to the remote computing facilities.

3. The intelligent thermostat of claim 1

wherein the visible portion includes one or more of the one or more environmental sensors, the mechanical user interface, and the optico-electrical user interface;

wherein the concealed portion includes the long-distance wireless communications module, and the local wireless communications module; and

wherein significant power-consuming subcomponents other than the optico-electrical user interface are located within the concealed portion.

4. The intelligent thermostat of claim 3 wherein the concealed portion further includes:

the display driver,

the electronic memory,

the power-management circuitry,

the power-supply circuitry, and

the wake-on circuitry.

5. The intelligent thermostat of claim 1

wherein the one or more environmental sensors includes a first one or more of the one or more environmental sensors and a second one or more of the one or more environmental sensors;

wherein the mechanical user interface includes a first mechanical interface and a second mechanical interface;

wherein the visible portion includes the first one or more of the one or more environmental sensors, a first mechanical user interface, and the optico-electrical user interface;

wherein the concealed portion includes a second one or more of the one or more environmental sensors, and at least a second mechanical user interface, and the long-distance wireless communications module, and the local wireless communications module; and

wherein the concealed portion operates as a thermostat when the visible portion is not mounted onto the concealed portion.

6. The intelligent thermostat of claim 5 wherein the concealed portion further includes:

the power-management circuitry,

the power-supply circuitry, and

the wake-on circuitry.

7. The intelligent thermostat of claim 1

wherein the intelligent thermostat communicates with an intermediate box that, in turn, interfaces to an HVAC unit.

8. The intelligent thermostat of claim 7

wherein the intelligent thermostat communicates with the intermediate box through a wire interface;

and

wherein the concealed portion includes the power-management circuitry, the power-supply circuitry, the wake-on circuitry, and further includes power-stealing circuitry.

9. The intelligent thermostat of claim 7

wherein the intelligent thermostat communicates with the intermediate box by local wireless communications.

10. The intelligent thermostat of claim 9 wherein the concealed portion includes the power-supply circuitry and interconnects the visible portion with a power-distribution medium.

11. The intelligent thermostat of claim 9 wherein the concealed portion includes the power-supply circuitry and a battery that provides electrical power to the visible portion.

12. The intelligent thermostat of claim 9

wherein the concealed portion is a structural member;

and

wherein the visible portion includes the long-distance wireless communications module, the local wireless communications module, the microprocessor, the microcontroller, the one or more environmental sensors, the mechanical user interface, the optico-electrical user interface, the display driver, the electronic memory, the battery, the power-management circuitry, the power-supply circuitry, and the wake-on circuitry.

13. The intelligent thermostat of claim 7

wherein the intelligent thermostat communicates with the intermediate box by wireless communications through an ISP or mobile service provider.

14. The intelligent thermostat of claim 13 wherein the concealed portion includes the power-supply circuitry and interconnects the visible portion with a power-distribution medium.

15. The intelligent thermostat of claim 13 wherein the concealed portion includes the power-supply circuitry and a battery that provides electrical power to the visible portion.

16. The intelligent thermostat of claim 13

wherein the concealed portion is a structural member;

and

wherein the visible portion includes the long-distance wireless communications module, the local wireless communications module, the microprocessor, the microcontroller, the one or more environmental sensors, the mechanical user interface, the optico-electrical user interface, the display driver, the electronic memory, the battery, the power-management circuitry, the power-supply circuitry, and the wake-on circuitry.

17. An intelligent-thermostat-controlled heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:

one or more HVAC units; and

one or more intelligent thermostats that control the one or more HVAC units, each intelligent thermostat comprising;

a visible portion;

a concealed portion onto which the visible portion mounts by sliding the visible portion onto the concealed portion; and

subcomponents, wherein each of the subcomponents is associated with one or more intelligent-thermostat functionalities, the subcomponents comprising;

a long-distance wireless communications module that interconnects the intelligent thermostat with remote computing facilities;

a local wireless communications module that interconnects the intelligent thermostat with environmental-condition-system components;

a plurality of infrared sensors comprising;

a first infrared sensor configured to detect an occupant approaching the intelligent thermostat; and

a second infrared sensor configured to detect a presence of the occupant regardless of whether the occupant is approaching the intelligent thermostat;

a microprocessor that controls an interactive user interface and additional monitoring, analysis, and communications functions, and further controls a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system based at least in part an occupancy state of the home determined by the second infrared sensor;

a microcontroller that controls low-power-consuming functions and wake-on circuitry;

one or more environmental sensors that monitor an environment;

a mechanical user interface;

an optico-electrical user interface;

a display driver;

an electronic memory;

a battery;

power-management circuitry;

power-supply circuitry; and

wake-on circuitry that powers up the interactive user interface when the occupant approaching the intelligent thermostat is detected by the first infrared sensor.

18. The intelligent-thermostat-controlled HVAC system of claim 17 further including one or more intermediate boxes that each interconnects at least one HVAC unit with at least one intelligent thermostat.

19. The intelligent-thermostat-controlled HVAC system of claim 18 wherein each intermediate box communicates with a corresponding intelligent thermostat through one or more of:

a wire interface;

a local wireless communications medium; and

a wireless communications through an ISP or mobile service provider.

20. The intelligent-thermostat-controlled HVAC system of claim 18 wherein each intermediate box additionally includes intelligent-thermostat functionality.